Tobacco-stripper.



T. P. FORD.

TOBACCO STEIPPER.

APPLICATION IILBD H115, 1903.

904,770. Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

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TOBACCO STRIPPER.

APPLICATION FILED rm. 5, 1908.

904,770. Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

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TOBAUGO STRIPPER.

APPLICATION FILED rm. 5, 1908.

904,770. Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS P. FORD, OF PIKEVILLE, OHIO.

TOBACCO-STRIPPER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pikeville, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco-Strippers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tobacco strippers, the object in view being to produce a simple and efficient apparatus of this nature whereby the leaves of tobacco may be conveniently and quickly severed from the stem.

The invention comprises various details of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

I illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tobacco stripper. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the aws closed. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view longitudinally through the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing the means for adjusting a portion of the rear of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the weighted member which opens the gripping jaws.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the frame of the apparatus having an upright stationary rack B with a jaw B at its upper end, which forms a stationary jaw, and C is a hinged rack having a jaw C at its upper end. D designates an inclined delivery table which is stationary and extends underneath the movable rack C. Fixed to the upright portions of the stationary rack B is the yielding releasing jaw E having arms E. Said aw E has an angled end E extending about the upright portion of the rack B, and F designates a similar yielding releasing jaw mounted upon the arms F which are fastened to the upright portions of the hinged rack C. Said jaw F has an angled end F adapted to extend over the edge of the upright portion of the rack C.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 5, 1908.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Serial No. 414,421.

Each of said jaws E and F is adapted, when the jaws come together, to extend underneath the overhanging jaws B and C and have a yielding contact against the leaves to be stripped from a stem of tobacco and, when the two jaws B and C recede from each other to release their grip upon the tobacco stalks being held, said releasing jaws will serve to detach the leaves of tobacco which might adhere to said jaws B and C.

In order that the tension of the jaws E and F may be regulated, I provide the wedge-shaped blocks H which are inserted one between each resilient arm E and F and each wedge-shaped block has a screw H fixed thereto, which screws have a longitudinal play in the slots N formed in the racks B and C, as shown clearly in the drawings. By moving said wedges up or down, the tension of the arms of the jaws E and F may be regulated, as will be readily understood.

Pivotally mounted upon the stub shafts 0 carried by the stationary rack B are the disk wheels Q, each of which has pivotally connected eccentrically thereto a pitman L, the outer ends of said pitman being pivotally connected to pins L upon the hinged rack C. J designates a foot tread which is mounted upon the arms J which are pivotally connected at J 2 upon the frame of the apparatus, and I designates pitman which connect the side pieces J with the disk wheels Q, whereby the latter may be given a rocking movement.

T designates a weighted bar, the ends of which are connected to the disk wheels, and said bar T has a lateral projection, the marginal edge of which is preferably convexed and has a weight T projecting therefrom, the purpose of which weighted bar is to cause the hinged rack C to e thrown from the stationary rack when pressure is relieved from the tread.

Fixed to the stationary rack B upon one side thereof is a concaved block R serving as a gage and, through which the leaves upon a stem of tobacco are drawn, as shown in the drawings, in readiness to be gripped by the aws when it is desired to grip or sever the same from the stem. The block R serves as a means to prevent the leaves from getting caught in the adjacent parts of the apparatus.

In operation, the leaves being placed between the jaws with the stem held above the upper ends of the latter, the operator by pressing down upon the tread will cause the jaws to come together to grip and securely hold the leaves adjacent to their connection with the stem. When the leaves are thus gripped with the stem above the jaws, by drawing the stem laterally the stem may be severed from the leaves. Then pressure is relieved from the tread, the marginal edge of the weighted bar coming in contact with the hinged rack will throw the latter away from the fixed rack and allow the leaves to fall down the deflecting table where they may be bound either by hand or any suitable binding mechanism.

lVhat I claim to be new is 1. A tobacco stripper comprising a frame having a fixed rack, the upper end of which forms a jaw, a hinged rack, a jaw thereon, a tread member, connections between the latter and said hinged rack for drawing the latter toward the fixed rack, yielding releasing jaws fixed to said racks. and weighted means for separating the racks when pressure is relieved from the tread member, as set forth.

2. A tobacco stripper comprising a frame having a fixed rack, the upper end of which forms a jaw, a hinged rack, a jaw thereon, a tread member, connections between the latter and said hinged rack for drawing the latter toward the fixed rack, yielding releas ing jaws fixed to said racks, means for regulating the tension of said yielding jaws, and a weighted member for separating the racks when pressure is relieved from the tread member, set forth.

3. A tobacco stripper comprising a frame having a fixed rack, the upper end of which forms a jaw, a hinged rack, a jaw thereon, a tread member, connections between the latter and said hinged rack for drawing the latter toward the fixed rack, yielding releasing jaws fixed to said racks, adjustable wedge blocks interposed between the arms of the yielding jaws and said racks, and a weighted member for separating the racks when pressure is relieved from said tread member, set forth.

a. A tobacco stripper comprising a frame having a fixed rack, the upper end of which forms a jaw, a hinged rack, a jaw thereon, a tread member, connections between the latter and said hinged rack for drawing the latter toward the fixed rack, yielding releasing jaws fixed to said rack, adjustable wedge blocks interposed between the arms of the yielding aws and said racks, a screw fitted to each wedge-shaped block and passing through an elongated slot in the rack, and aw-eighted member for separating the rack when pressure is relieved upon the tread member, as set forth.

5. A tobacco stripper comprising a frame having a fixed rack, the upper end of which forms a aw, a hinged rack, a aw thereon, a tread member, pivotal wheels mounted upon the stationary rack, pitman connections between said wheels and tread member, and pitman connections between the wheel member and the hinged rack, and weighted means carried by said wheels for separating the racks when pressure is relieved from the tread member, as set forth.

6. A tobacco stripper comprising a frame having a fixed rack, the upper end of which forms a aw, a hinged rack, a jaw thereon, a tread member, pivotal wheels mounted upon the stationary rack, pitman connections between said wheels and tread member, pitman connections between the wheel member and the hinged rack, a bar connected at its ends eccentrically to said wheels and weighted, one edge of said bar adapted to bear against the edge of said hinged rack to separate the same from the stationary rack when pressure is relieved from the weighted member, as set forth.

7. A tobacco stripper comprising a frame having a fixed rack, the upper end of which forms a aw, a hinged rack, a jaw thereon, a tread member, pivotal wheels mounted upon the stationary rack, pitman connections between said wheels and tread member, pitman connections between the wheel member and the hinged rack, a bar connected at its ends eccentrically to said wheels and weighted, one edge of said bar adapted to bear against the edge of said hinged rack to separate the same from the stationary rack when pressure is relieved from the weighted member, a concaved member secured to the fixed rack and through which the leaves of a stem are drawn prior to the gripping of the same between said jaws, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS P. FORD.

lYitnesses O. R. Kuoiinxmnienlz,

P. H. Manna. 

